asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for the years 1961 to 1971 the amount of agricultural land lost to other uses; and if he will specify, with statistics, the principal uses for which this former farmland has been required during this 10-year period.

The following estimates are based upon the agricultural census which is concerned only with holdings having significant output or comprising at least 10 acres of agricultural land. The figures for 1970–71 are not yet available.increase the price of this commodity on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community;(2) whether he is aware that, whereas the price of butter in Great Britain during 1971 averaged around 28p per lb., it rose to 46½p per lb. in France; and to what extent the proposed further increase of between 5 per cent. to 8 per cent. in farm prices in the European Economic Community will affect the price of this commodity to the British housewife on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to his Questions on Tuesday, 8th February, 1972.—[Vol. 830, c. 297–8.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement in reply to the views expressed by the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments with regard to the Dutch Elm Disease, Local Authority Order, 1971.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are giving most careful consideration to the Select Committee's views but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding in 1972–73.

The international 1969 Bacon Market Sharing Understanding between the major suppliers of the United Kingdom market has been reviewed in accordance with its provisions. Agreement has been reached for its continuation in the 12 months following 31st March, 1972. In the light of the agreement with the European Economic Community to introduce the mechanisms of the common agricultural policy from 1st February, 1973, the United Kingdom has undertaken to give three months' notice of its intentions to withdraw from the understanding if this proves to be necessary in order to meet our obligations as members of an enlarged Community.After consultation with the Bacon Market Council in accordance with the provisions of the understanding, the Government have determined the total quantity of bacon required on the United Kingdom market in the 12 months beginning 1st April, 1972, as 639,570 tons, a reduction of 10,430 tons over the determination for 1971–72. The expected level of production in the United Kingdom is determined at 265,000 tons—the same as the 1971–72 figure, but representing a slightly higher proportion of the total requirements. The remaining 374,570 tons is allocated to the exporting countries as follows:

	Tons
Denmark	286,520
Poland	40,000
Irish Republic	28,180
Sweden	10,000
Netherlands	7,520
Hungary	2,000
South Africa	150
Rumania	100
Yugoslavia	100
The reserve quantity remains at 35,000 tons.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many acres of land held by his Department are officially classed as derelict.

None of the land held by the Ministry of Defence is officially classed as derelict.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the time taken from the date of application to join the Ulster Defence Regiment and notice of acceptance or rejection; how this compares with previous years; and whether the time taken for screening the application can be further reduced.

In 1970 the time taken to process applications was about six weeks on average. By the end of last year this was reduced to about four weeks, and it is now nearer three weeks. In view of the processes involved and the need for thoroughness, I doubt that any further significant reduction will be practicable.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what were the recruitment figures of each year since the Ulster Defence Regiment was established; how many applied to join in each year giving the number of Protestants and Roman Catholic applicants: how many applications were rejected in each year; and how many Protestants and Roman Catholic applicants were rejected.

The enrolled strengths at the end of 1970 and 1971 were about 4,009 and 6,648, respectively. In 1970 7,751 applications were received, including 6,070 from Potestants and 1,602 from Roman Catholics, of which 672 and 314, respectively, were rejected. The corresponding figures for 1971 were 6,645; 6,241; 294; 449; and 40.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the latest recruitment figures for the Ulster Defence Regiment; what is the existing total strength of the regiment; how many battalions now exist; and where they are located.

The strength of the regiment on 9th February, 1972, was 269 officers and 7,005 soldiers. There are now 10 battalions located as follows:

• 1st Battalion—Co. Antrim North.
• 2nd Battalion—Co. Armagh.
• 3rd Battalion—Co. Down.
• 4th Battalion—Co. Fermanagh.
• 5th Battalion—Co. Londonderry.
• 8th Battalion—Co. Tyrone East.
• 7th Battalion—City of Belfast.
• 8th Battalion—Co. Tyrone West.
• 9th Battalion—Co. Antrim South.
• 10th Battalion—City of Belfast.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what progress has been made to date in setting up local units of the Ulster Defence Regiment throughout Northern Ireland.

As the U.D.R. has expanded during the last five months, three additional battalions, 12 additional companies and 92 additional platoons have been authorised, though not all in new locations. While the deployment of the U.D.R. will remain a matter for the military judgment of the G.O.C., the increase in strength of the regiment will make it easier for members to serve nearer their homes.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many British soldiers on leave in the Republic of Eire have been assaulted during the past two years; how many were injured; what were their injuries and damage they suffered; and what compensation has been paid by the Eire Government.

None, as far as can be established.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list all respects in which her Department's regulations discriminate against persons of the age of 18 years or over on grounds of sex alone.

None, except that the Teachers' Superannuation (Family Benefits) Regulations, 1970, require men teachers to forfeit a percentage of their salaries for the purpose of providing pensions for their widows and children. Women teachers are excluded from this compulsory scheme but may voluntarily, within limits, make provision for pensions for their widowers and other dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will seek powers to require all independent further education establishments providing English language instruction to foreign pupils aged 18 years and under to register with her Department.

I share the concern that many people have expressed about the standards of some independent establishments providing English language courses for foreign students, but there are difficulties about the sort of legislation my hon. Friend has in mind. Many of the independent schools of English are recognised by my right hon. Friend as efficient under the Departmentment's Rule 16, and I am anxious that as many as possible of the unrecognised establishments should seek and secure such recognition.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she proposes to take in view of the fact that the recent increases in building costs have not been matched by corresponding increases in education cost limits set by her Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 20th January, 1972.—[Vol. 829, c. 246.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT in order of expenditure the amounts spent per child in each of the local education authorities in England and Wales.

This information is given in "Education Statistics 1970–71" published by the Institute of Municipal Treasures and Accountants and the Society of County Treasurers. I will arrange to send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a breakdown of the present number of secondary school children who attain two or more Advanced levels according to the type of school.

Of pupils leaving schools in England and Wales during the academic year 1969–70, it is estimated that 77,700 had obtained two or more A-level passes. The breakdown between the various types of school is:

Secondary Modern	600
Technical	1,500
Comprehensive	14,600
Grammar	39,000
Other maintained	1,500
Direct Grant	8,400
Independent recognised as efficient	11,200
Other Independent	900

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show, for January, 1972, the number of unfilled male vacancies notified to his Department for each individual county in Scotland; and if he will show against those figures the number of unemployed males in each county.

Following is the information:

NUMBERS OF NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED FOR MALES, AND MALES REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT JANUARY, 1972. IN COUNTIES OF SCOTLAND:
	Unfilled vacancies	Wholly unemployed
Aberdeenshire	95	4,409
Angus	130	7,194
Argyllshire	56	1,265
Ayrshire	127	6,848
Banffshire	9	691
Berwickshire	9	206
Buteshire	10	241
Caithness-shire and Sutherland	16	1,098
Clackmannanshire	25	894
Dumfriesshire	50	1,608
Dunbartonshire	61	6,466
East Lothian	50	498
Fifeshire and Kinross-shire	148	6,232
Inverness-shire	83	1,670
Kincardineshire	6	201
Kircudbrightshire	6	294
Lanarkshire	910	47,440
Midlothian	541	12,139
Morayshire	19	665
Nairnshire	4	142
Orkney	6	170
Peeblesshire	38	119
Perthshire	124	1,480
Renfrewshire	119	7,883
Ross and Cromarty	17	2,050
Roxburghshire	30	386
Selkirkshire	24	277
Shetland Islands	31	223
Stirlingshire	92	3,849
West Lothian	30	2,148
Wigtownshire	6	767

The vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the will list the number and type of skilled vacancies in the area covered by his offices in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

At the Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Elswick and Walker employment exchanges, 61 notified vacancies for men remained unfilled at December, 1971, in certain engineering, construction, vehicle building, woodworking and printing occupations generally regarded as skilled. The figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of unfilled vacancies in the Northern Region.

At 5th January, 1972, the number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled in the Northern Region was 5,723. Of these, 2,514 were for men, 474 for boys, 1,994 for women and 741 for girls. The statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
					Scotland	Wales	Northern region	Oldham and Chadderton, Failsworth and Saddleworth travel-to-work area
July, 1968	…	…	…	…	3·7	3·6	4·4	1·6
October, 1968	…	…	…	…	3·7	3·9	4·9	1·4
January, 1969	…	…	…	…	4·1	4·3	5·2	1·7
April, 1969	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·0	4·9	1·6
July, 1969	…	…	…	…	3·7	3·7	4·5	1·6
October, 1969	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·1	4·7	1·5
January, 1970	…	…	…	…	4·4	4·3	5·1	1·9
April, 1970	…	…	…	…	4·1	4·1	5·2	1·9
July, 1970	…	…	…	…	4·3	3·6	4·5	1·9
October, 1970	…	…	…	…	4·5	4·1	4·6	1·9
January, 1971	…	…	…	…	5·3	4·4	5·1	2·3
April, 1971	…	…	…	…	5·7	4·6	5·5	3·0
July, 1971	…	…	…	…	6·2	4·6	5·6	4·8
October, 1971	…	…	…	…	6·3	5·0	6·1	3·6
January, 1972	…	…	…	…	7·1	5·8	6·9	4·2

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated number of people now working in industry who are classed as self-employed sub-contracting workers.

My Department does not collect statistics of the numbers of self-employed sub-contracting workers in industry and has no recent information on which to base an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the inquiry which he has announced that he will set up into lead smelting at Avonmouth.

I am glad to say that Sir Brian Windeyer, F.R.C.P., F.R.C.S.,

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the regional unemployment rates in, respectively, Scotland, Wales, the Northern Region and Oldham in July, 1968, and at each successive three month interval thereafter.

Following is the information:F.R.C.S.E., F.R.S.M., F.F.R., D.M.R.E., has agreed to act as chairman of the inquiry, the terms of reference of which will be:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the wage rates in the mining industry prior to the start of the present dispute, state the date of the last increases, giving the amounts and the percentage values; and if he will state the date of the four previous increases, giving the amount and percentage value in each case.

I have been asked to reply.

BASIC WAGE RATES 1966–70
			1966			1967
				Increase			Increase
			Date	Cash	Per cent.	Date	Cash	Per cent.
				£			£
National Power Loading Agreement			June introduction			October
Highest Rate	…	…		—	—		0·175	0·6
Lowest Rate	…	…		—	—		0·55	2·4
Non-Craftsmen Surface—			June introduction			October
Highest Rate	…	…		0·525	3·5		0·625	4·0
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·600	5·2		0·625	5·1
Underground—
Highest Rate	…	…		0·525	3·8		0·625	4·4
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·600	4·7		0·625	4·7
Craftsmen Surface—			June introduction			October
Highest Rate	…	…		0·950	6·3		1·05	6·5
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·525	4·3		0·625	4·9
Underground—
Highest Rate	…	…		0·950	5·9		1·050	6·1
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·525	3·9		0·625	4·5
Third National Daywage Structure			June introduction			October
Highest Rate	…	…		—	—		—	—
Lowest Rate	…	…		—	—		—	—
Weekly Paid Industrial Staff Surface—			1966 December			October
Highest Rate	…	…		1·000	4·6		1·350	6·0
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·600	3·7		0·700	4·2
Underground—
Highest Rate	…	…		1·000	4·5		1·250	5·3
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·600	3·6		0·70	4·1

			1968			1969
				Increase			Increase
			Date	Cash	Per cent.	Date	Cash	Per cent.
				£			£
National Power Loading Agreement			November			November
Highest Rate	…	…		0·175	0·6		0·45	1·7
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·60	2·6		1·20	5·1
Non-Craftsmen Surface—			November			November
Highest Rate	…	…		0·750	4·6		1·375	8·1
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·750	5·8		1·375	10·1
Underground—
Highest Rate	…	…		0·750	5·0		1·375	8·8
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·750	5·4		1·375	9·4
Craftsmen Surface—			November			November
Highest Rate	…	…		1·150	6·7		1·375	7·5
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·750	5·6		1·375	9·7
Underground—
Highest Rate	…	…		1·150	6·3		1·375	7·1
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·750	5·2		1·375	9·0
Third National Daywage Structure			November			November
Highest Rate	…	…		—	—		—	—
Lowest Rate	…	…		—	—		—	—
Weekly Paid Industrial Staff Surface—			November			November
Highest Rate	…	…		0·800	3·3		2·000	8·1
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·875	5·0		1·950	10·7
Underground—
Highest Rate	…	…		1·000	4·1		2·000	7·8
Lowest Rate	…	…		0·875	4·9		1·950	10·4

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many disused acres of railway land currently held by British Rail there are in East Suffolk.

This information is not readily available. I am writing to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has given permission for the demolition of the facade of the Yorkshire Bank in Saturday Market, Beverley, which is a listed building.

No. A consent to demolish part of the building was given on 13th July, 1971, by the local planning authority, the East Riding County Council, to which my right hon. Friend left the decision. This consent specified that the roof, cornice and front walls—except for the ground floor where it

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate annual tonnage of waterborne cargo on the River Thames that passes the Palace of Westminster.

About 3 million tons annually.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate annual tonnage of cargo carried by barge to and from the depots of the British Waterways Board at Brent-ford and Brimsdown, respectively; and what is its main origin and destination and its mode of transit to and from those depots.

I am informed by the board that last year 170,000 tons and 26,000 tons were handled at these depots, respectively; that origins and destinations of shipments are various; and that inland movement to and from the depots is by road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate annual tonnage of waterborne cargo landed and loaded at Isle-worth in West London direct to and from the Continent.

About 35,000 tons, comprising 28,000 tons imported and 7,000 exported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been made by his Department of the need and likely use of a West London Thamesside container terminal linked to Tilbury and other container depots by river or canal transport.

None. The Port of London Authority carried out a preliminary examination, but in the absence of support from likely users did not feel able to take the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been made by his Department of the scope, cost and commercial viability of craft specifically designed for carrying standard sized containers on major navigable inland waterways and, in particular, the Trent, Yorkshire Ouse and the tidal Thames.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what developments have been made by the British Waterways Board in commercial transport by water, particularly in respect of the rivers and waterways converging on the Humber estuary.

Developments within the the past few years have included certain wharfing and warehousing facilities and trials with "push-tow" units on the Aire and Calder and Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of Ghana's renunciation of her debts to the United Kingdom, if he will seek information as to the amount of the Ghana Government's outstanding debts to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the International Development Association, and other Governments than the United Kingdom Government, and the repayment schedules on these debts; and if he will make a statement.

Debts owed to Governments other than the United Kingdom and to the international institutions, total some £300 million. Payments are heaviest in the next 10 years but repayment of aid loans continues until the year 2020.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been issued to Her Majesty's Government's representatives on the governing bodies of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the International Development Association in respect of requests by the Ghana Government for further financial assistance or the rescheduling of existing debts.

Since the change of Government in Ghana on 13th January no requests for financial assistance or for rescheduling of debts have been received by Her Majesty's Government from the Government of Ghana. No instructions have therefore been issued to the British delegation to the governing bodies of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Ghana concerning the cancellation or rescheduling of payments on Ghana's debts to the United Kingdom.

Since 1966 there have been three international conferences on Ghana's medium-term debts, when substantial relief was arranged for the period when debt payments were heaviest. It was expected that a fourth conference would have been held before mid-1972.Her Majesty's Government very much regret that the present Government of Ghana should have made these unilateral announcements affecting contractual obligations without any form of consultation with Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of Ghana's renunciation of her debts to the United Kingdom, if he will seek information as to the size of Ghana's reserves of gold and foreign currency and of her overseas debts, respectively, at the time of assuming independence and at the most recent convenient date; and if he will make a statement.

At independence reserves were about £200 million. Debts currently outstanding are estimated at over £400 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average, longest and shortest period of imprisonment served by persons released from prison after serving life sentences in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

The table below shows the average, longest and shortest period served by prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, for whatever crime, released in England and Wales on licence during the last 11 years.

Year of release	Average period served—years	Longest period served—years	Shortest period served—years
1971	10·5	24	3
1970	8·6	12	3
1969	8·8	12	5
1968	8·9	12	1*
1967	7·9	10	1
1966	8·8	11	7
1965	8·9	21	3
1964	8·3	15	3
1963	7·7	10	4
1962	8·6	14	5
1961	7·7	9	3
* Released after 6 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions took place in the calendar years 1969, 1970 and 1971 to the latest available date for offences against the London Cab Act, 1968.

Records held by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis indicate that 13 summonses were issued in 1969 for offences under Section 4 of the London Cab Act, 1968, 106 in 1970, and 12 in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the constitution and what are the terms of reference of the working party at present considering the problems of shoplifting and theft by staff employed by shops; and whether its report is expected to be made within the next three or within the next six months.

The working party was set up to consider the problems of shoplifting and thefts by staff employed by shops, and to make recommendations for the prevention of these offences. The interests represented include trade, industry, consumers and trades unions. The report is not expected within six months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that a contract of employment for au pairs has now been agreed and translated into several languages, if Her Majesty's Government will now sign the Au Pair Convention of the Council of Europe.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to take any action at present, but he is keeping the position under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables showing the change in net annual income for married couples with wholly earned incomes over a standard range between £500 and £5,000 a year having one child, two, three, four and 10 children under 11 years of age resulting from the ending of family and child tax allowances and the introduction of positive tax-free benefits of £60 for the first and £80 per annum for subsequent children.

Earnings per annum				Change in net annual income
				Married 1 child	Married 2 children	Married 3 children	Married 4 children	Married 10 children
£				£	£	£	£	£
500	…	…	…	+60·00	+93·20	+121·20	+149·20	+317·20
750	…	…	…	+14·15	+47·35	+75·35	+103·35	+271·35
1,000	…	…	…	-·06	+3·46	+3·34	+28·00	+196·00
1,500	…	…	…	-·06	+3·46	+3·34	+3·22	+45·30
2,000	…	…	…	-·06	+3·46	+3·34	+3·22	+2·53
3,000	…	…	…	-·06	+3·46	+3·34	+3·22	+2·53
4,000	…	…	…	-·06	+4·62	+5·96	+7·36	+15·34
5,000	…	…	…	-·06	+4·77	+6·11	+7·45	+15·49

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purchasing power of £1 sterling to the latest convenient date compared with 1st January, 1953.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 100p in January, 1953, its value in December, 1971, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at 51p.This estimate is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for calendar years adjusted by movements in the General Index of Retail Prices for the months at the beginning and end of the period. Prices are recorded in the middle of the month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why there have been delays in beginning work on the building of the health centre at Rutherglen; what is now the proposed date for beginning construction; when it will be in operation; and if he will make a statement.

Some delays have occurred, related mainly to the overall plan for the site which will ultimately house a maternity hospital and a general hospital as well as a health centre.As a first stage a major sewer diversion has to be undertaken and work on this should start by the end of this month.

The following figures show the gains (+) or losses (-) that would result from the proposed changes:The building proper should begin by the end of the summer and be completed in about a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he is satisfied that, in the interests of salmon conservation, the terms proposed in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 4821, will reduce the worst effects of estuarine and coastal netting as permitted by the wording of the Salmon Acts, 1862–68; and if he will make a statement.

My proposals in the White Paper are aimed at improving management of salmon stocks as well as conservation. The measures proposed should contribute towards the attainment of those objectives.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount of money to be allocated to hospitals, in the London Borough of Wandsworth, under the additional financial help programme announced by him last November.

Hospitals in Wandsworth will receive, for revenue expenditure, an additional £124,000 a year for the next four financial years. The amount to be allocated for extra capital works has not yet been determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been paid out weekly by his Department in supplementary benefit to single miners and miners' families, both as a total and

	Week ended 11th January		Week ended 18th January		Week ended 25th January		Week ended 1st February		Total
Region	Strikers	Dependants	Strikers	Dependants	Strikers	Dependants	Strikers	Dependants	Strikers	Dependants
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Northern	—	—	—	—	1,738	217,960	5,968	190,324	7,706	408,284
Yorks, and Humberside	—	600	21	5,942	872	235,833	8,938	255,661	9,831	497,936
East Midlands and East Anglia	—	—	—	62,665	19	202,538	1,241	186,950	1,260	452,153
London South	—	—	—	—	23	13,372	16	6,965	39	20,337
South West	—	—	—	—	—	1,893	—	1,825	—	3,718
Wales	—	—	—	—	222	122,872	4,195	114,229	4,417	237,101
West Midlands	—	—	—	—	4	57,998	20	55,230	24	113,228
North West Manchester	—	—	—	—	165	19,508	254	11,840	419	31,348
North West Merseyside	—	—	—	—	—	36,030	107	16,757	107	52,887
Scotland	—	—	—	—	6	61,043	22	51,376	28	112,419
Total £	—	600	21	68,607	3,049	969,047	20,761	891,157	23,831	1,929,411

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will inquire into the volume of illnesses caused by abuses of medicines and the information contained upon this in the Pharmaceutical Journal, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West.

I am advised that inquiry as proposed by the hon. Member would be unlikely further to illuminate any problem in this country which may not, of course, be the same as that which obtains elsewhere. In order to reduce the danger of abuse the Medicines Commission is considering which medicines should be confined to prescription only and which are sufficiently safe to be permitted for general sale. Medicines not on either list will be sold at pharmacies only.When the commission's advice is received by Ministers, and after the necessary consultations with interested bodies, regulations under the Medicines Act to put the relevant safeguards into effect will be laid before Parliament.

The figures are shown in the following table. The regions shown do not necessarily coincide with National Coal Board areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the amount of money paid out in social security to families of divorced couples since the new Divorce Act became law.

I assume the Question is directed to payments of supplementary benefit. Information about the amount of benefit paid out since the new Divorce Act became law is not yet available, and when it is will give only the amount paid out to divorced women as a group, irrespective of when they were divorced. From the latest information available, it is estimated that in 1970 about £19 million was paid to about 42,500 divorced wives.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the premature publication of the findings of the Payne Committee of Inquiry into Whittingham Hospital.

I deeply regret the disquiet to which the staff at Whittingham, as well as members of the hospital management committee and regional hospital board, have been subjected by premature and unauthorised disclosure of extracts of the report of the committee of inquiry before these could be seen in the context of the report as a whole. I am making inquiries into how this came about.The report is to be published in full in a Command Paper on 15th February when I hope to make an oral statement to the House. There has never been any question of not publishing the report in full.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what amount of coke and coal are currently in storage in gas board depôts.

Stocks of gas coke and coal held by the gas industry at the end of January amounted to 163,000 and 37,000 tons, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the consultancy arrangements for the negotiations of prices and delivery conditions of steelworks' scrap between the British Steel Corporation and those of the companies supplying scrap, to the exclusion of the British Scrap Federation, will be allowed to continue if the United Kingdom Government become a member of the European Coal and Steel Community on the signing of accession to the Paris Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

This is a purely commercial matter, but I understand that the steel industry's consultancy arrangements with certain ferrous scrap merchants will terminate by the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will show in two lists the countries of the Commonwealth which have metricated and those which have not.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a supplement to the White Paper on metrication giving a list of those Commonwealth and former Commonwealth countries which have recently adopted, or are in process of adopting, the metric system.

The following is the information:

Countries now using the metric system exclusively:

India

Countries now largely using the metric system:
Cyprus	Mauritius
Malta
Countries and territories known to be now in the course of changing:
Australia	Malawi
Botswana	Malaysia
Canada	New Zealand
Ceylon	Nigeria
Fiji	Singapore
Ghana	Swaziland
Guyana	Tanzania
Hong Kong	Uganda
Kenya	Zambia
Lesotho
Countries and territories not yet changing (though some are known to be planning to do so):
Antigua	Montserrat
Bahamas	Nauru
Barbados	St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla
Bermuda
Dominica	St. Lucia
The Gambia	St. Vincent
Grenada	Sierra Leone
Jamaica	Tonga

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, when framing legislation arising from the White Paper on metrication, he will include a requirement that scales and other measuring instruments used by retailers selling loose goods by metric measures will have dual calibrations or, in cases where this is impossible, a requirement that such establishments must display a large, approved chart showing metric and imperial equivalents.

I shall certainly be taking into account my hon. Friend's suggestion in considering ways of protecting the consumer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that members of the public who feel aggrieved by any change to the metric system by retailers can appeal to a special protection organisation, and to ensure that every retail establishment using the metric system displays full information, in an approved form, as to how contact can be made with this organisation.

As promised in the White Paper, we shall be considering what are the best practical steps to enable the shopper to compare values in imperial and metric quantities. We will certainly give serious thought to my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now introduce fresh legislation on

Monopoly references
Fire insurance	…	…	…	…	9th December, 1968
Asbestos and certain asbestos products	…	…	…	…	18th August, 1969
Wire and fibre ropes	…	…	…	…	23rd March, 1971
Connection charges for electricity and gas	…	…	…	…	19th May, 1971
Parallel pricing	…	…	…	…	19th May, 1971
Machinery for the manufacture of footwear	…	…	…	…	18th June, 1971
Breakfast cereals	…	…	…	…	18th June, 1971
Chlordiazapoxide and diazepam	…	…	…	…	14th September, 1971
Merger references
Acquisition by the Berrow's Organisation of the Stourbridge County Express Series					25th January, 1972
The proposed acquisition of Glaxo Group Ltd. by either the Boots Co. Ltd. or Beecham Group Ltd.					4th February, 1972

I expect to receive the Monopolies Commission's reports on the current newspaper merger reference by 24th April and on the proposals concerning Glaxo Group Ltd. by 3rd July. It is difficult to forecast accurately the date of completion of work on monopoly references, but the commission hopes to report on all its current inquiries in the course of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what forecast he has of the number of school-leavers there will be in the Aberavon constituency in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975; and how unit trusts as recommended in the Report of the Company Law Committee, Command Paper No. 1749, June, 1962.

No, but I am considering the question of releasing unit trusts from control of management charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on which date each of the current nine references was made to the Monopolies Commission; and when he expects to receive the reports thereon.

The dates on which the 10 references currently under investigation were made are as follows:many will require jobs within three years of leaving school.

It is not possible to make precise forecasts, but there will probably be about 5,000 school-leavers during the four years in question. No estimate can be made of numbers who will require jobs within three years of leaving school.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local authorities in Wales with derelict land capable of being renewed which failed to deal with any acreage in 1971.

No authorities known to the Derelict Land Unit of the Welsh Office to have dereliction problems were inactive in 1971.